Done with my TOEFL Exam !!!!!
I took the TOEFL last week and just got my score today so I thought I'd write about it since I couldn't find many posts like this when I was preparing.
So basically I decided to give TOEFL about a month before the exam which is honestly not a lot of time. When I went to register I saw the fee and genuinely just sat there for a minute. Nobody told me it was that expensive. That was the moment I realized okay I need to actually study for this because there's no way I'm paying that much and then failing.
I studied for a few weeks, mostly just doing practice tests and watching some YouTube videos. The integrated writing task was confusing at first because you have to read a passage and then listen to a lecture and then write about both of them at the same time. It took me a while to get the hang of it. Speaking was the part I was most scared about. Practicing alone out loud in your room feels really weird but it actually helps so just do it.
On exam day I reached early because I didn't want any extra stress. The exam is around 3 hours long and it goes reading, listening, speaking, writing in that order. Reading was fine. Listening was a bit stressful because you only hear the audio once so you really have to pay attention. Speaking felt nerve wracking in the moment but I just tried to stay organized and not panic. By writing I was pretty tired but I somehow got through it.
I got 5.5 out of 6. Honestly I just smiled when I saw it. It's not a perfect score but I worked hard for it especially given how little time I had. Also really glad the money didn't go to waste lol.
If you're preparing — the registration fee will surprise you so be ready for that. Other than that just get familiar with the format, practice speaking out loud even if it feels weird, and don't overthink it on the actual day. It's a long exam but it's doable. Good luck if you're giving it soon.